Bomber Command, arguably the most famous of the RAF's wartime commands,
was brought into existence on 14 Jul 1936 after the Home Defence Force
was reorganised in recognition of the many tasks which would fall to
the RAF in time of war. The Command's structure evolved during the
war as the number of aircraft, squadrons and airfields subordinated
to it grew such that in 1942 an additional level of command, the Base,
was added between Group and Station.

Typical composition
of Bomber Command formations

Group. In 1939 there
were 6 groups in Bomber Command, 5 (No 2 Gp to No 6 Gp) the United
Kingdom and a sixth (Advanced Air Striking Force - AASF) in
France. HQ No 5 Gp was
based at RAF Grantham for
most of WWII. Groups were normally commanded by an Air Vice Marshall.
In 1942 an additional
level
of command
was added
below
the
Group, the
Base.

Base. The Base was added to simplify command, normally
grouping 2 'satellite' airfields to a main airfield. The Base was commanded
by an Air Commodore. Below the Base came the stations.

Bomber Command expansion to meet the wartime offensive needs in 1942-43
put a severe strain on organisation administration to the extent that
the intermediate level of command between Group HQs and Station - the
Base - was introduced in March 1943. A Base consisted of a Base Station
with one or two sub-stations. Each Base was initially identified by the
name of the Base Station and the role of the Base, eg Topcliffe Training
Base, Leeming Operational Base.
However, from September 1943 Bases were re-designated by a two-number
identifier, the first number indicating the Group and the second the
number of the Base within that Group, the first in each Group being the
Group's training Base. These are listed below under the Groups.

Station. Each station was a separate airbase from which
flying squadrons could generate flying sorties. Stations were commanded
by a Group Captain. Each station usually hosted 2 flying squadrons.

Squadron. Each squadron was commanded by a Wing Commander
and normally comprised 2 or 3 Flights.

Flight. A Flight would normally be equipped with 8 aircraft and have
a Squadron Leader as Officer in Charge.

Throughout the entire bombing offensive, the bomber organization was
highly centralized and controlled by Bomber Command Headquarters. Groups
were responsible for ensuring the crews were briefed according to Bomber
Command instructions (routes to and from the targets,
altitudes, numbers of aircraft and bomb load), while the stations provided
the domestic support and the squadrons provided administration and aircraft
maintenance only. However, this changed in March 1943, when Bomber Command
reorganized into the Bomber Operational Base System; this system brought
several small bases under one station commander and it centralized the
administration and maintenance on this new large station. This reorganization
reduced squadrons to the aircrew and basic servicing capabilities only
(gas, oil, starts and parks).

Strategic Bombing Directives

Jul 1941 saw the Chiefs of Staff make one of their most important statements
with respect to bombing operations, signaling their support for total
war from the air and an all-out offensive by the only Service able to
target the enemy's centres of gravity effectively at the time. "We
must first destroy the foundations upon which the German war machine
runs
- the
economy
which
feeds it, the morale which sustains it, the supplies which nourish it
and the hopes of victory which inspire it. Only then shall we be able
to return to the continent and occupy and control portions of his territory
and impose our will on the enemy . . . . it is on bombing on a scale
undreamed of in the last war, that we find the new weapon on which we
must principally depend for the destruction of economic life and morale."

Following the extreme attrition of the Bomber Command force during 1941
this was superseded on 14 Feb 1942 by a new area bombing directive. "It
has been decided that the primary objective of your operations should
be focused on the morale of the enemy civil population and in
particular the industrial workers". The Chief of the Air Staff,
Lord Portal supplemented with his own thoughts "I suppose it
is clear that the Aiming
Points
are to be
the
built up
areas and not the dockyards or aircraft factories."

Almost a year later on 14 Jan 1943 a new directive was received which
pulled the weight of effort away from German targets. The continuing
U-boat threat caused the U-boat bases on the western French coast to
be given priority status. Lorient, St Nazaire, Brest and La Pallice,
together with the U-boat construction yards in Germany were targeted.
Italian cities
were also to be targeted to help force Italy
out of the war.

Bombing operations

Most bombing operations were carried out by night to afford a measure
of force protection against ground-based air defences and German fighter
aircraft. The small proportion of daylight attacks which were conducted
initially used the Blenheim,
later
Boston,
Ventura and Mosquito.
Night bombing came into its own in early 1941. The initial target set
focused on oil infrastructure and ops were flown by the Wellington,
Whitley and Hampden.
Targeting priorities soon changed and by Mar 1941 the ports and shipyards
associated with capital ships and the U boat
threat were the primary target. Other targets in support of the Battle
of the Atlantic were the factories and airfields which supporting the
Focke Wolfe
Condor reconnaissance platform which patrolled the North Atlantic. Key
bombing operations are listed on the Key Dates page.

A review of Bomber Command battles and operations can be found on the
550 Sqn website :: click here.

Air Officer Commanding in Chief Bomber Command

Sir Richard Peirse :: - 8 Jan 1942 (posted to India)

Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris :: 22 Feb 1942 -

Bomber Command Groups

No 1 Gp

HQ No 1 Gpwas
based in Lincolnshire for part of World War II. 1 Gp operated Lancaster,
Halifax, Wellington, Battle, Hampden and Manchester.

No 2 Gp

In May 1943, 2 Gp was disbanded and its day bombers were transferred
to Fighter Command and
subsequently joined 2nd Tactical Air Force. Two Mosquito sqns were
transfered to 8 Gp. 2 Gp operated Blenheim, Boston, Mitchell, Mosquito
and Ventura.